Alveolar nerve impairment following bilateral sagittal split ramus osteotomy and genioplasty

Objective Permanent sensory changes after sagittal split osteotomy have been estimated by various methods of measure. The incidence after sagittal split osteotomy vary considerably. The purpose of this study was to evaluate sensory alterations in patients treated either with sagittal mandibular osteotomy and genioplasty or only with sagittal mandibular osteotomy. The type of sensory alteration and the times of recovery of lower lip sensitivity was also checked in the different groups. Methods 106 patients who underwent BSSRO w/o genioplasty, during a 4-year period, were included. Qualitative and quantitative tests were applied to investigate tactile sensitivity, providing objectively measurable data involving the ability to feel the stimulus and to discriminate a two points static stimulus. Thermal sensitivity, sharp/blunt discrimination were also evaluated, as well the quality of subjective sensory symptoms. Results and conclusion Eighteen months after surgery, almost all of the patients had satisfactory recovery of their initial skin and mucosal sensory deficits, but the intensity of more fine discriminative sensitivity was reduced in those who had simultaneously undergone genioplasty associated with BSSRO.